Brought home a "Birkin" last night...

Eat your heart out!

I brought home a Birkin last night. A Birkin and a lady I would happily switch teams for in a heartbeat! Haha!

Work colleagues and I arrived in Manila from Nasugbu around 7 in the. Since I didn't want to go home yet because I was scared of Saturday night traffic, I decided to go see Valentine's Day first. Most of my colleagues already had plans except for Haydee. She was flying back to Davao today . Since her hotel was near the mall, I asked if she wanted to go see the movie.

While waiting for screening time, we hung out at the Fully Booked in GB 5. I haven't been to a bookstore for quite some time now. Before, I used to spend an entire half day in Powerbooks or Fully Booked. I would lose track of time because I would be so engrossed into the books.

The last books I bought were Tommy's Tale by Alan Cumming from Books for Less and Remember Me by Sophie Kinsella from Fully Booked. Yeah, I'm a sucker for LGBT lit and chick lit. Haha! Friend Haydee is also a huge fan of the written world. Every time she's in Manila, she makes it a point to visit a bookstore and she would rarely, rarely leave the bookstore without any purchase.

Last night, she took home Anita Shreve and Maya Angelou. I wasn't really planning on getting any but I decided to browse while waiting for Haydee to finish her book shopping. That's when I saw the two books above. I didn't have any money with me so I'm really happy that Haydee agreed to spot for me.

I'm excited to read both.

I already started with Angie's travel notes. It's an interesting read because the book content was taken from her journals written during her UNHCR trips to Cambodia, Africa, Pakistan and Ecuador. I've always, always loved Angelina Jolie because of her humanitarian work. To some it may appear false. But I believe in her work. Because if she weren't doing it sincerely, she wouldn't do it over and over again. Add to that the fact that some of the places she visits put her at risk - Afghanistan, for example.

The other title, Bringing Home the Birkin, was written by Michael Tonello and is also an interesting read because he recounts his search for the elusive Birkin. "It's not a bag. It's a Birkin." goes one line from an episode of Sex and the City. I've seen another book cover of the title ages ago but I didn't buy it because it was pretty expensive. When I finally had the money and went back for the book, it was no longer there. So now that I stumbled upon the title again (though different cover), I already went ahead and got it. Yey!

I saw some other titles that I want to get but they're really, really bloody expensive. Augh! I want to get In Praise of Women: Anita Magsaysay-Ho, but it's P4,000! I have to save up for it. Huhuhu! It sucks that some of the book titles I want are so expensive. I want a Tom Ford title that came out years ago but the book cost as much as a round trip airfare to Singapore. Ugh!

It also sucks that there is no LGBT section anymore in Powerbooks or NBS. I remember I was really happy when NBS started having a LGBT lit section. It was good that I got to buy several titles for my collection. I kind of expected that the section would eventually be removed. I just dunno if the decision was influenced by anti-gay groups. Hay!

Anyway, reading is something I want to (I have to) do again. I should squeeze in a chapter or two in my daily schedule. I envy people who can read so many titles in a week. Good for them. I wish I could do the same. But I don't think I can give up spinning and Reagan just so I can have Michael Thomas Ford or David Stukas on a Tuesday night. Hehe!

What was the last book you read?

Prada's "Fairy" Guy was in Manila...

So the James Jean signing happened last Saturday and it was great.

I asked my youngest brother Andre' to tag along, and he was kind enough to put up with me for an entire day. Haha! We left the house around 9AM. Initially, I wasn't too happy with the weather. It was drizzling, and I thought making the trip to faraway Bonifacio High Street was going to be a hassle.

Thankfully, the skies cleared and the sun came out by the time we reached South Super. We dropped by the office to get my books and the books Roy left to be signed. From Tower, we headed to Fully Booked. I got excited once again upon seeing the huge billboard of "Hare."

When we reached FB, there were already a number of people waiting. And it was only 11AM. Registration was at 12NN. I let Andre wander around the bookstore first and I headed to the health section and got some books on yoga.

I really like Fully Booked, primarily because of the diverse range of book titles. It just sucks that they don't have a section for LGBT titles. If I had the money, I would put up a small bookstore a la A Different Light and bring here the works of Noel Alumit, Michael Thomas Ford, Timothy James Beck, Alex Sanchez and other really good LGBT writers. Mr. Daez, you have a market here, so please, please have an LGBT section. Powerbooks used to carry several titles. So did NBS. I dunno what happened. I'm quite sure I'm not the only buyer of the titles.

Anyway, 15 minutes before 12 NN, Andre' and I met up again at the ground floor. People were starting to line up and we already got in line. The guys before us were the grandkids of the late Pres. Cory Aquino, I think. They were sporting the Ninoy kind of eyeglasses.

I looked around and I'm probably the only person there who went because of Prada. I could hear the people talking about James Jean's work for Fable, among others. No one mentioned Prada. Haha! I was afraid to mention it because I might get the look from the die-hard JJ fans. But hey, his work for Prada is legit and I'm sure it had a significant impact on his career as an artist.

I also noticed that there were a lot of CDGs. No, not Comme des Garcons. I mean cute dorky type of guys. Haha! There's something about the eyeglasses and slightly unpolished look that I found really cute. Hahaha!

There was one guy who looked a lot like this DJ I have a crush on, but I wasn't able to talk to him because someone with purer intentions called his attention ahead of me. Haha! Add to that the fact that I was with my youngest brother.

Moving on, Andre' and I got numbers 13 and 14. We headed out of Fully Booked after reg and walked to Market Market. With almost six hours to kill, we decided to catch 2012. The movie ran for almost three hours so that took care of half of the wait time. The other three hours we spent for lunch and hanging out at Starbucks, where we prepped the books for signing.

I also asked Andre' to play with the camera so he can be familiar with it. Obviously, the other reason why I dragged him to the signing was so that he can take photos of my "Fans Kita" moment. Haha! The entire thing was also a good opportunity to hang out with my youngest brother. We rarely see each other because of my work and because of his school.

Hay, my feelings for Market Market are the same as my feelings for Trinoma. I hate it. I hate it because it's really crowded and the lighting is just terrible and I don't like the cinemas and I hate the fact that I had to go out of the cinema to go to the restroom and I can keep going on. Haha! But I don't want to write about that now.

The movie ended fifteen minutes past five. Even before the end credits rolled, I already asked Andre’ that we already go and head back to FB. There was already a small crowd gathering at the ground floor. Excitement and anticipation were in the air. I like it.

The signing was supposed to start at six, but James met his fans around 6:30. I think he was giving interviews upstairs. I kept my cool the whole time. One of my biggest pet peeves is anything late, but for the guy who did the design for Prada’s Spring/Summer ’08 collection, I tried very hard to keep my cool. I just smiled and checked out the crowd. There were more CDGs that night. Woohoo!

When James finally arrived, he went straight to his seat and the signing started. I dunno if that was really the plan, but it would have been great to hear him say a few words.

Anyway, I felt nervous as my turn to meet him neared. When it was finally my number, I went up to him and said hi. I stood by his side and watched him sign books, while Andre' took photos. Good job, lil bro. Afterwards, I said thanks and then I gave him small souvenirs from Team Manila - a keychain and a coin purse.

The whole thing was rather quick. One of my favorite moments though was when I asked him to sign the "Hare" print on Kindling with the message, "I'm so PRADA you." Jaime Daez said chuckled and said, "That's funny." In my head, I'm like, "At least, I made Jaime Daez laugh." Haha!

I stayed a bit and then watched the other James Jean fans. The crowd went wild every time the girls asked for a hug and a kiss on the cheek from James. He really is some kind of a celebrity, huh. There were also those who gave him a blank page and he just drew on it. He's fast, man. He can sketch something in less than five minutes. He is so good his doodle can even be considered art. Haha!

I wanted to stay a bit but I had to leave after getting a phone call from a former colleague. The birthday of her daughter was that night. I thought it was scheduled Sunday night, and had she not called, I would be looking stupid at Bubba Gump on a Sunday night looking for the dinner party for Phoenix.

It was still a good James Jean event. Thank you, Fully Booked, for bringing James to Manila. I may not have gotten anything from the Mrs. Prada’s Spring/Summer ‘08 collection, but getting to meet the guy behind all the fantastic whimsical artwork behind the collection is a much better experience. Woohoo!!!

All set for James Jean next weekend...

I'm really looking forward to the James Jean signing this weekend. I dunno. I guess it's because I'm excited to see the person behind the fantastic Spring/Summer 08 collection of Prada. Haha!

Last Friday, after doing some research on the artist, I became more determined to get some of his commercially-produced works. I was sort of ashamed that I only knew about James Jean because of Prada. Haha! My friends Carlo and Wes are the ones who are quite familiar with Mr. Jean's work. I was even surprised to find out that both have books which have James' work. I shouldn't be actually. Carlo is a graphic artist/novelist after all, and Wes is a voracious reader. Hehe!

Anyway, so the hunt for the available James Jean titles happened Friday afternoon. Initially, I just thought of getting Xoxo because it was the most affordable. I told myself that since I just wanted something for James to sign, Xoxo was enough. But when I saw what Kindling had to offer, I just knew I had to get it. I can frame the pieces and hang them up in my three-bedroom unit. Hahaha! The paintings/artwork collection is starting to be a reality. The three-bedroom unit continues to be a dream.

I called Fully Booked GB5 to ask whether they had the two books. Kindling was sold out, only one copy of Xoxo left. Aha! I took it as a sign, and had the book reserved under my name. Next, I called Fully Booked High Street. They had some copies of Xoxo and several copies of Kindling. Yey! But then I was told that they weren't accepting reservations for it since many people wanted to get the book.

That sort of got me all the more excited to get the book. I wasn't too keen on going to High Street that night (I didn't want to give up Sweeney Todd), and at the same time, I was afraid that I might ran out of copies.

Hmm, what to do? What to do? I checked the list of Fully Booked stores and when I saw Sketchbooks GB3, I immediately gave them a call to ask about Kindling.

They had one more copy, but like FB BHS, no reservations. I asked to speak with the manager and in my most pa-charming and pa-awa tone, I said, "Sige na please. I promise to get it later. Please please." And that was it. Haha! I asked for the manager's name and thanked her very much.

So I'm now the proud owner of two James Jean. I haven't opened both books yet. Some may find this weird, but I need to have a "right moment" to open good stuff like this. Just like the September issue of US Vogue. I either wait for the weekend when I'm relaxed, just so I can enjoy the pages.

Hmm, I'll probably open the books this Friday, too. For now, the previews thanks to YouTube are more than enough. Haha!

Prada's "Fairy" guy is coming to Manila...

James Jean is coming to Manila.

James who? The guy commissioned by Mrs. Prada to do her Fairy collection for Spring/Summer 08 collection.

Of course, his whimsical work for the revered fashion house is just one of the many feathers in his cap. He does comic book illustration and animation, as well. But it was because of his work for Prada that I learned about him .Hehe!

Anyway, click here to find out about James Jean's visit in Manila.

I love NBS...

It's sale season again at National Bookstore, and I can't wait for next payday because I already have found a number of books I will buy. Eeeep!!! But the good thing is I checked out the books I plan to get and most of them are 40% off, so I guess that's good. (Because now I can buy more books. Hehehe! No!)

See the photo above. That's from the NBS in Robinson's Galleria. And that's the reason why I love National Bookstore has become a favorite when it comes to LGBT titles. They really have a shelf for it. Favorite authors Timothy James Beck, Michael Thomas Ford, David Stukas can be found on the shelves. Powerbooks does carry some LGBT titles, although the selection is very limited. Now, Fully Booked, I would have expected to have one, but I'm still not sure if they do. (I have yet to check out the Fort Bonifacio branch.) I remember I dared email Jaime Daez giving him a list of LGBT titles they can start with, and why those are the titles I recommended, but I don't know whatever happened to that email. I'm not even sure if reached him. Anyway.

Carlo told me about Bestsellers at the fourth level of Galleria. I think it was where Limits used to be. Anyway, I checked it out last Friday and it is total heaven for people who are in love with the written world. It's spacious and the lighting was good and you good spend several hours just going through their book selection. I was about to get six books, but after a serious debate with myself, I decided to put them down and get out of the place before I change my mind again. I promised I would go back there sometime next week to get the books. Hehehe!

If I had the resources, I'd start my own bookstore. But it would be a specialty bookstore, perhaps something like Borders or A Different Light bookstore. The bookstore would carry 80% LGBT titles and 20% chick lit-home-fashion-art titles. It would be small (think Hugh Grant's bookstore in Notting Hill) and the people who work in it can actually answer the customer's queries. They'll be there because they love books, and not really because they need something to pay the bills. (Or maybe both). Every month, we'll have a guest author do book readings and signings (and because the bookstore is doing well, we can fly in authors from abroad like Alex Sanchez or Noel Alumit). There'll be writing workshops with noted literary people. Coffee may be served. And in the storage room, there'll be hot men raring for some action. (Alright, that last sentence was a joke.)

I wonder what a good name for a bookstore would be - Margins... The Pink Room... Page 69... Odd Room... Happy Bookstore... Backdoor... Gray Area... Red Light... Happy Homo... The Queer Reader... okay, none of these seem right.